RNLI Parkfest, Stranraer

News

Putting The Young In Young Guns

Stranraer RNLI Park fest Young Guns night heads into its 6th year in 2017 and with maturity of age came the thinking that maybe the future of Stranraer should have a heavier involvement with the organisation of the Young Guns night. So with great difficulty control was handed from the committee to three of Stranraer’s brightest and talented young people, Lana McMurtie, Catriona McGhie and Megan Ritchie.

With a line up including Zoe Bestel , Black Mango, Karin and James Martin this new team of organisers have widened the talent pool net. Historically most of the acts at Young Guns are Stranraer and surroundoing area based, this year acts are coming from Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Glasgow as well.

ZOE BESTEL

Zoe released her first EP at the age of 14, in 2012, called 35 Missed Calls and she has since been hailed as one of Scotland’s most exciting emerging talents.

BLACK MANGO

The five piece band first came together in July 2016, and are based in Kirkcudbright. The band describe their sound as being “reminiscent of late 80’s/90’s guitar driven sound with a modern twist”.

The band have recently been recording their own songs in Dumfries, with their first single being released “Dead of the Night”.

KARIN

A 3-piece heavy alt/post-rock band based in South-West Scotland. They launched their debut self-titled demo EP on May 22nd, 2017. For fans of Reuben, Biffy Clyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers…

JAMIE MARTIN

Jamie Martin is a Scottish singer-songwriter and producer from Glasgow who combines alternative/soul song writing with modern bluesy guitar heroics. Influenced by John Mayer, Ben Howard and John Martyn and known for his combination of honest and intimate live shows, Jamie offers a unique, multi-layered interpretation of the traditional solo singer-songwriter. His introduction to a music career began with production and engineering, experience which he is now utilising with his own sonically diverse and innovative recordings which recall Bon Iver and recent City & Colour albums. Following the release of his debut self-titled EP last year, Jamie played high profile shows at prestigious Glasgow venues King Tut’s, ABC and The Garage and blew away audiences at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Jamie will be playing more live dates with his backing band this Spring and Summer. For more info, head to jamiemartinmusic.com

The 7th annual RNLI Park Fest has now come and gone, a weekend like no other where the committee and crew got greyer and older by the second, wondering what the weather was going to do on Friday and how much devastation would be left in its wake. In true Park Fest fashion though everyone pulled together and bar a couple of puddles at either end of the marquee, that were soon dealt with by a trusty bilge pump courtesy of Dumfries and Galloway council, the show was on and ready to go.

Young Guns night saw Jessica Harrison, Caution By The Monumental Goose, Delphi, Scope and Arcadium turn out performances that had many saying it was the best line up of talent since the inception of the event. Sadly due to illness Amie Kirkpatrick from Dumfries couldn’t make it along to perform and everyone involved with Park Fest wishes her a speedy recovery.

Jessica Harrison happy with the sound check

Main day started with ‘Haeniacs‘ queuing at the door to get the best spot for the long day ahead and credit to them they took in all the festival had to offer for the nine and a half hour wait till their favourite appeared on stage. Along the way though they found some emerging talent they liked too (and no this wasn’t just our compère’s Ali and Lee). A strong and very loud start to the day was ushered in by Chopperhead, belting out fast paced rock at half past twelve on a Saturday afternoon certainly let everyone in Stranraer know that Park Fest 2016 had started. The afternoon ebbed and flowed with the relaxed styling’s of local girls Rachel Reid, Caitlin McCornick and Lorna McColm mixed with the ever professional Freefall and eclectic mix of rock, blues and jazz from The Black Art Babas. Last minute stand ins Novantae bought themselves a new group of fans with and outstanding set of original material and begged the question will they return to main day evening slots in the near future?

The afternoon session was brought to an emotional close by a very full stage with the final ever performance by The Elastic Band and what a set it was. It had the potential to go two ways, One- too many people on the stage and it doesn’t work or Two- give the performance of their lives in memory of their sorely missed band mate Quintin Goodall who passed away earlier this year, for anyone with any doubts it was the latter.

Any sorrowful cobwebs were soon blown away with The Samba Sisters taking on the break entertainment with two 40 minute sets of Samba And Brazilian drumming.

With a strong evening session brought by Glasgow band Broken Boy and Park Fest favourites the boys from Belfast- The Late Twos, the ever increasing audience numbers were given a great build up from these emerging acts as they lead to them to the headline act.

Now booking a former X Factor winner to headline can be seen as a risky manoeuvre, how will ticket sales go? will people enjoy the performance? could this mark the end for big names at the little festival with a big heart?

RNLI Crew and Ben Haenow

So Ben Haenow 2014 X Factor Winner had agreed to appear on our stage, much contract negotiations took place, toing and froing with agents, booking flights, adhering to contractual obligations and what happens? Up turns Ben and his brother Alex two of the nicest, easy going guys you are ever going to meet. Nothing was an issue to them. They loved the hospitality and welcome they received and this is before they have even made it to the stage.

At this point lets think of the ‘Haniacs‘ traveling from deepest Swindon and other parts of the UK (Sorry can’t remember where they all said they were from) and even in one case France!! They lined up at the front of the stage patiently waiting for their idol to appear. Now our compères love playing with the crowd and can occasionally wind them up, this is exactly what they decided to do building the crowd by giving a running countdown till Ben’s appearance, teasing them with fake introductions and getting them practicing chants.

With Lee’s X Factor style introduction Ben started a forty minute strong set, joined at one point by his brother on guitar treating the crowd to some acoustic numbers. To say he had the crowd in the palm of his hand is an understatement, he was like the pied piper with people of all ages dancing, swaying and singing along to a highly polished performance filled with cheeky grins and even a Beyonce bum shake.

The night was finished off by local band The Dangleberries and their always impressive electric and bagpiped rock mix. The crowd were bouncing, in fact at one point I think the tent was bouncing too.

Our RNLI Crew, committee, hostesses, lighting and sound guys, hi vis helpers, Wags (and Shurdie), stage crew, security, merchandise and ticket girls, photographer Pete Robinson and each every other volunteer that gave their time to help us out I thank you all.

Was the festival a success??? Yes. Are we doing it again next year??? You bet. Will there be another big name headliner??? Pass but we will do our very best.

From all of us at Park Fest to all of you who attended, come back next year, bring your friends and families and we will endeavour to put on the best show we possibly can to keep you coming back year after year.

Local up and coming artist set to Headline this year’s Young Guns for Park Fest Night

SCOPE

Fresh from his successful appearance at T In The Park and soon to be on the line-up at Youth Beatz alongside James Arthur. Park Fest is excited to announce SCOPE will Headline the Park Fest Young Guns Night 2016.

Scope is a 21 year old UK based hip-hop artist, who, at only 18 was signed to the Glasgow-based independent label Toy Towns Records. In the last twelve months he has circumnavigated the globe with his music working with internationally acclaimed producers. He recently worked with the twice Grammy nominated hip-hop producer in London on 2 new EP’s.

He is currently getting more and more attention with the press having a recent interview done with the Daily Record prior to his T in The Park performance on the T Break Stage and a video of him Freestyling on BBC Social.

Our Young Guns Headliner will be making his T in Park debut on the T break stage tonight Friday 08/07/16 at 10PM.

He is the natural choice for us as we bring you our 2016 lineup artist spotlight over the coming weeks. He performed one song last year with Danielle Glover at Park Fest and this year is bringing a whole set for us on the Friday night, something not to be missed.

Scope is a 21 year old UK based hip-hop artist, who in the last twelve months has circumnavigated the globe with his music.

He made this video earlier today for BBC The Social live from T in the Park

Following on from last year’s massive success with headliners S Club, the Park Fest team were left the huge challenge of coming up with an act that would be as entertaining and exciting. They think they have found the answer in X-Factor winner Ben Haenow.

Ben Haenow won the eleventh series of The X Factor in 2014. Following his win, his debut single “Something I Need”, was released in December 2014. He has since been touring and performing at some huge events around the world and is currently working on new material, with a single due later this year.

Park Fest is proud and privileged to bring Ben to this year’s festival and support the RNLI at “The Little Festival with a Big Heart” and feel that the welcome he will receive will match any in the country from the crowds on the shores of Loch Ryan in the South West of Scotland.

It’s Happening on Wednesday

Yes the time has arrived (well almost) this Wednesday 6th July 2016 the announcement for this years RNLI Park Fest headliner is being made, keep your eyes peeled to social media, printed press, carrier pigeon, smoke signals!! We are more than a touch excited……..nervous with anticipation…………… no definitely excited.

The Late Twos RNLI Park Fest are thrilled to announce the return of a crowd favourite to this year’s line-up. The Late Twos are a Northern Irish Indie Rock/Pop band, formed in 2011 in Belfast. A lively and energetic five piece outfit, they are well known across Northern Ireland for their unique and fresh sound, style and charisma. The boys have recently garnered national headlines with their cover of Neil Diamond’s classic hit ‘Sweet Caroline’ in support for their beloved northern Irish football team and their journey to the Euro 2016 competition. The boys first played the Young Guns night of Park Fest in 2014 and the organisers quickly realised the need to have them on the main day. Onstage and offstage they make the most of the festival entertaining the crowds or mixing with them and soaking up the atmosphere. They will be an absolute must hear at this year’s festival.

In a double announcement for the festival, after weeks of blood, sweat and blisters the Park Fest PR team have finally let go of the reigns and let the world in to see………. www.lifeboatparkfest.co.uk

The new improved website is here, with this year’s line-up and galleries from over the years it has all the information you require to make the decision to come along and enjoy ‘the wee festival with a big heart’.